Chef
Comprehensive Sites
Bureau of Labor Statistics: Chefs, Cooks, and Food Preparation WorkersFrom this site of the U.S. Department of Labor, you can gather some basic information on what it’s like to be a chef and also details on wages you can expect and related occupations. You’ll learn about training, qualifications, and advancement. Reading the work description might help you decide if being a chef is the right job for you.
Princeton Review: ChefLearn about a day in the life of a chef at this site, which discusses rewards of the culinary profession and the type of education needed. Link to further information on the quality of life you can expect after several years in the field, or find magazines that chefs read, useful college majors, and facts and figures about a culinary career.
StarChefs.comA wealth of resources for chefs and students interested in becoming culinary masters is available at this page, including culinary school listings, recipes, a job board, and feature articles. Ask career experts what to expect if you choose this profession, or browse the online recipes and rising stars in the field.
Occupational Titles
Chef
Chef Assistant
Back Line Cook
Baker, Head
Banquet Chef
Breakfast Cook
Broiler Chef Or Cook
Chef De Cuisine
Chef De Froid
Chef, Head
Cook Apprentice
Cook Manager
Cook, Apprentice
Cook, Head, School Cafeteria
Cook, Specialty Foods
Dinner Cook
Executive Chef
Executive Chef
Food Service Worker
Galley Cook
Garde Manger
Grill Cook
Head Chef
Head Cook, School Cafeteria
Head Pastry Chef
Kitchen Chef
Line Cook
Master Chef
Pastry Chef
Personal Chef
Prep Cook
Restaurant Cook
Roundsman
Salad Chef
Sandwich Artist
Saucier
School Cook
Second Cook And Baker
Sous Chef
Specialty Cook
Accredited Academic Programs
Princeton Review: College Majors, Chef“Culinary Arts” and “Hospitality” are two possibilities for a college major listed at this site. Link to these others to be returned a list of schools in the U.S. that offer your selected major. Next, go directly to their websites to explore the vast opportunities that await as a chef.
Salary Levels
PayScale: Chef AssistantThe hourly wage of a chef’s assistant is listed at this chart, displayed by years of experience. Scroll down a bit, and you will find similar information on rate you might earn according to the city or state you work in.
PayScale: Executive ChefFree salary information is available at this page, which combines details on median salary for an executive chef and information according to years of experience. The median salary by employer type is also displayed at the page, which has connections to further information on salary by city, by certification, industry, gender, degree, or major.
Professional Organizations
American Culinary FederationThis organization is the premiere chef’s resource in the United States and all of North America. You will find details on the benefits of membership, as well as connections to educational opportunities, events, and a video library. A wealth of information on apprenticeship programs, scholarships, and trends and techniques in cooking are found.
American Personal and Private Chef AssociationAn internet gateway to the private chef industry, this organization offers opportunities to learn about personal chef training, personal chefs in the news, and upcoming seminars in the field. If you want to become a personal chef, click on the link at the left of the page under “FAQs” to find details on home study, live seminars, and virtual training.
National Restaurant AssociationAt Restaurant.org, you can locate all the information you need to successfully run a restaurant business, or connect to food safety and nutrition and career information. Believe it or not, a “policy and politics” department will tell you all about important legal matters that could affect your work in this industry. You’ll also find links to online dining guides and answers to questions from nutritionists.
National Restaurant Association Educational FoundationDedicated to the development of the restaurant and food industries, this organization helps you find training classes in your area, provides practical advice on safe food and management, and emphasizes professional development and career opportunities.
Licensing & Certification
Certified Executive ChefIf you are interested in certification as a chef, look at this and related sites from the American Culinary Federation. Learn about the work experience, training, and examination requirements to achieve this level of a chef distinction.
Job Opportunity Sources
National Restaurant Association: Careers and EducationTry the restaurant job bank to find opportunities around the country in the field. You will also find career advice, educational opportunities, and student resources.
National Restaurant News Job SeekersThe job seeker resource of this national publication offers a job listing resource fully dedicated to the restaurant industry. A broad range of jobs is available for searching and is also organized by food service companies, sizes, and types. Daily updates and hints in searching are included.
Publications
Food and WineDiscover new recipes, click on “restaurants,” or go the chef’s link to find information on the top chefs and master cooks. A series of chef recipe collections is found, as well as blogs, videos, and features and columns from the magazine.
GourmetIf you are a gourmet or want to become one, check out this page, which offers food and cooking departments, recipes, menus, and information on food politics. Features from the magazine can be viewed online, along with editorials from expert contributors.
Nation’s Restaurant NewsRestaurant news provides top stories, breaking news in the industry, and departments on operations, beverages, franchises, food safety, and going green in the business. Recipe ideas are shared, as well as opinions and events.
Restaurant BusinessOf interest to restaurateurs, chefs, and managers, this publication lets you search for information on training, building a business, online exclusives, and timesaving operation solutions.
Online Forums & Blogs
Food and Wine BlogsFrom the notable magazine, Food and Wine blogs provides a test kitchen discussion, which talks about the latest on the restaurant radar.
Personal Chef ForumDiscussion forums for the personal chef industry are available here, with an area for any topic you can think of. Personal chef summits, tips and techniques, recipes for success, and a forum especially for student members are included. You will also find postings on special diets and other information that is especially useful in the pursuit of a chef’s career.
Career Videos
American Culinary Foundation: Educational Video LibraryThis resource provides free video coverage of unique recipes and featured dishes. Click on the image or links to see and hear master chefs from teaching colleges around the country and public television sources.
Food and Wine VideosWith international music and a large playlist of videos, you’ll find videos from master chefs around the world, a video search tool, and great navigational tools for the entire site. You can access cooking school videos, top rated recipes, and clips from the best new chefs.
Gourmet VideoGourmet magazine’s video department brings master chefs to the internet and into your room, showing you delicious food and cooking techniques, as well as discussions of unusual ingredients and little-known cuisine.
ISeek: Chefs and Dinner CooksView this career video and find out more about the jobs surrounding chefs and dinner cooks in the skillful preparation of food. The different positions they might have, varied duties, and levels of advancement described.
